Summer Storm (Broken Circles Book 1)

Fuck Lev for doing this to me, any speck of respect I’d had for the man had dissolved and I no longer cared for any wrath he threw my way over the discontent I felt toward Tayte. I wasn’t an unreasonable man, Tayte could have come to me any time and told me what his intentions were, now all I did was question the long friendship we’d had and if it had been genuine, or if he had just been biding his time, knowing there was an expiration date down the road. I didn’t want to believe it, wouldn’t until I had all the facts before me. But one thing was certain, Tayte and I would never be the same, this ruined us.

Jolie

Four weeks had passed since the altercation with CeeCee and I hadn’t heard a peep from her again. No big deal, and a quiet relief. I also hadn’t seen or heard from Yannick either. He hadn’t been in the bar, hadn’t visited the flat, and I hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the car he drove or the men he usually had in tow. It was like Yannick Ischmov had never existed to me and I was confused about how to feel. Torn between having missed an opportunity or thanking the heavens I’d had a lucky escape. The heart warred with the mind constantly and wasn’t that just a kicker?

Back at work full time, both teaching and serving, nothing was particularly exciting in my day-to-day life, exactly how I liked it. Sometimes, just sometimes I yearned for the little spark of excitement Yannick had injected into boring old me the handful of times we’d been together.

One night of sex was all it had been. A kiss or two here and there did not make a relationship. Late at night when thinking straight was almost impossible due to being exhausted, I’d climb into bed and fantasise about dark tattoos and soul burning eyes, about another life, and waking up cocooned in heavy arms. Those nights were always cruel and left me waking up discontented and disillusioned.

We weren’t meant to be. All I could settle for were the few short memories I had and make them do.

Sunday being my only day off, I planned to use it wisely. After grabbing a few hours sleep, it was time to stock up the fridge and the cupboards. Bills were paid, tips had been good, and splurging for a change crossed my mind, maybe even treating myself to something new to wear. Yeah, an afternoon on Oxford Street was just what I needed, I could pop into a supermarket on the way home for groceries.

Getting into the centre of London didn’t take long, and although it was relatively busy, I still ambled along the street in the glorious sunshine, window shopping, since Oxford Street was expensive. Stopping outside Harrods, I gazed at the ornate window displays in awe. I’d never been inside, hadn’t ever had a notion to but with curiosity getting the better of me before I could second guess anything, I was wandering through the fancy gold doors, feeling like an imposter and loving it all at the same time.

Jolie Summers did not belong in a shop like this but what the hell? I could browse, and if I saw something I liked, I could save for it, right? God, it was so posh I took a second to look down at my trainers and grimace. Yet, I coveted the ostentatious nature of the whole place, the building was enormous; I could easily while away a few hours. Oher people shopping, I noted, were just like me - ratty trainers, jeans and t-shirts, though there were others dressed a little fancier. The more I walked, the less I cared about the clothes I wore.

The Beauty Apothecary smelled awesome as I roamed through, glancing in glass cabinets housing beautifully ornate bottles of scents, and pots of Lord only knew what. I used soap and water on my face, cheap make up I bought from Boots down the road. They hid the price tags on some items, the lesser expensive ones, still marked up and eyewatering for a girl like me.

Resisting temptation to stop and sniff the delights, I ended up walking through to the men’s department fancying an ogle at the gorgeous models plastered on the walls. Formal menswear was where I saw him. Yannick Ischmov, with one of his men, Greg, talking animatedly with a salesperson. He was smiling, hands casually crossed over his chest, and looking a damn sight better than the men in fancy suits on the adverts surrounding me.

I tried to backtrack without looking where I was going, inadvertently bumping into someone behind me. They gave out an almighty yell as I stepped on their toes and all eyes fell on the commotion I’d created, while I couldn’t drag mine away from Mr sex on a stick a few feet away from me. As Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman said - Big mistake. Big. Huge.

Yannick’s head snapped around, his sharp gaze settling on mine, initially stern, then melting into the smile I’d missed so much. It seemed to be a smile all for me, and bloody hell, it was good to see him, so good.

“I’m so sorry,” I gushed apologetically, turning my attention to the woman I’d trampled on.

“It’s fine, love. Though I don’t know why you’re running from that,” she smirked, discreetly tipping her head toward Yannick. Hell’s bells, he was standing right there at my side, Greg off to his right.

“Hey, Bunny,” the cheeky bugger said as he winked and gave me a little wave. “Making a nuisance of yourself?”

“Shut up,” I mumbled, embarrassed.

“Behave, Greg,” Yannick scolded lightly with a hint of mirth in his voice. Both of them were rascals.

“I was, ah… looking for the food hall?” My answer was lame, but it was